Life-boat.



F. BENTIVEGNA.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23.1917.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

ZSHEETS-SHEET I.

FILE- F. BENTWEGNA.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23.1911.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS'ZSHEET 2.

QEQ

LIFE-BQAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. e, 1917.

Application filed June 23, 1917. Serial No. 176,532.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FILIrPo BENTIVEGNA, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in LifeBoats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

One object of the invention is to provide a life boat of such a form of construction that when there is danger of the sinking of the vessel which is equipped with such a life boat, it is not necessary to launch the life boat before it is occupied, but passengers may take their position in the life boat while it is still on deck and await the sinking of the vessel beneath them, when the life boat will be automatically and safely launched. p

- Another object of the invention is to provide a protective covering for the cabin or interior of the life boat which prevents inundation of the passenger compartment, either by the tipping or lurching or even temporary submerging of the life boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby if, when'the vessel which carries the life boat sinks, it should do so in such a way as to tip the life boat on end or on one side, the life "boat will speedily right itself' One feature of the invention relates to the construction and arrangement of air compartments around the outside of the life boat to aid in causing the boat to float. 7

Another feature relates to the provision of chambers which are normally empty air chambers, but which are provided with a series of small ports or apertures so located that when the boat is launched and settles in the water, they will slowly admit water, these chambers being so disposed with relation to the hull of the boat that when they are filled with water, they will serve as ballast to steady the boat, and when the boat rises high enough to raise the said chambers above the surface of the sea the water will run out of the said chambers through the apertures. I

Another feature of the invention relates to the means for providing ventilation for the passenger cabin within the boat.

Other features of the invention will be set forth hereinafter.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan of the life boat embodying the invention.

Fig. 9. is a side elevation ofthe boat shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line 4, 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring nowto the drawings, 1 represents the hull of the life boat, which preferably is pointed at each end and which is also preferably provided with a fin or keel 2, which not only extends the full length of the bottom of the hull, but also extends up on each end of the hull. At each side of the keel there is secured to the bottom of the hull an air-tight tubular chamber 3, preferably cylindrical, these air-tight tubes preferably extending the entire length of the bottom of the hull, but having no communication with the interior of the boat. Theseare for the purpose of giving buoyancy to the life boat, and are preferably, located in close proximity to the keel and are parallel to each other. Secured to each of the two sides of the hull, somewhat above the said air tubes 3, but below the to of the hull, is a tubular chamher 4, preferably cylindrical, said tubes or cylinders 4 having a large number of small perforations 5 in the lower part of the tube, said perforations preferably being arranged in rows. These perforations are for the purpose of admitting water when the life boat settles so that: they will gradually fill and serve to steady and ballast the boat. lVhen the boat rises so that the cylinders are above the surface of the sea, the water will run out of the cylinders.

The top of the hull 'iS covered over completely, the covered top comprising preferably an outer deck portion 18 and a higher middle or roof portion 6, preferably arched over in cross section, and preferably somewhat pointed at each end, this top covering being entirely water-tight and provided with doorsor hatches 7 in whatever location and number may be desired, preferably one on'each side, to afford ingress to egress from the interior of the boat. These doors should be of such a character that when closed they will be substantially water-tight. There 1 19 inside of the roof portion 6, the several rows of cylinders being joined together laterally, but having no port or connection between the rows of cylinders, it being preferablc that each row of cylinders should be a complete water-tight compartment in itself, so that if there is any damage to the one,,it will not affect the other. The purpose of these air cylinders is to give additional buoyancy to the boat. The number of these rows of cylinders may be greater or less as desired. Prefe ably also there is an additionalair cylinder 12 at each end of the boat, just outside of the saidair cylinder 11. V

In order to ventilate the interior of the cabin when the hatches are closed, there are provided ventilating air tubes 13, prefer ably one extending up through the roof top 6 at each end, and preferably formed with flaring ventilator heads 1% in the ordinary manner of ship ventilators. The number of these ventilators may be increased if de sired. Preferably there should be means by which the ventilators can be temporarily closed to prevent entrance of water if the boat should be submerged over the top of the ventilators, as for instance, a valve 25 which can be operated from within the cabin, and preferably also there is a flap valve 26 at the mouth of the ventilator which may serve to prevent the rain from driving in, or the washing in by the waves. The wind or the splash of the waves against the flap valve will tend to close it.

Preferably also there are provided a plurality of water tubes 15 extending down through the top 6 and through the cabin, and through the bottom of the boat, and rising above the top of the deck to a slight distance alongside of the ventilators 1st, but not so high as the top of the ventilators. There shouldbe an equal number of these water tubes on each side of the middle top portion (5 in order to properly balance each other, preferably one on each side near each end, thus making at least four as shown in the drawings. As the life boat settles in the water the water will'rise in these tubes corresponding with the settling of the lifeboat in the water, and the weight of the water contained in these tubes aids in steadying the boat.

The boat should not be loaded so heavily eas es as to cause the life boat to settle down intc the water sufficiently to submerge the open end of the ventilators 14C. The capacity of the boat will therefore be understood so that when it is first loaded with passengers, the number will be limited. if the number of passengers within the cabin does not load the boat to its full capacity of weight, additional passengers be accommodated by climbing onto the deck, after the boat is once afloat, but care should be taken that it is not loaded sufficiently to submerge the open end of the ventilators. If theventi-v lators are constructed sothat the open end extends enough above the arched top so that these additional passengers who might climb up to the top of the roof would be sub merged completely before the wate" rose high enough to enter the ventilator, this would be an automatic means for preventing the boat from being overloaded because the passengers would be washed elf.

In order to aid any passengers who might be thrown into the water from the sinking vessel to climb onto the life boat, there are preferably provided life lines 16 attached to a rail 17 on each side of the life boat, these life lines being provided with floats 20. There isprovided a railing 21 around the outer edge of the deck which is preferably made in sections and hinged at the bottom on pintles 92 so that the railing may be turned down to make it more easy for the passen ers to climb aboard. Suitable means, as for instance, hooks 23 are provided so that when the passengers are on the deck, the railing may be locked in an upright position to prevent passengers from being washed overboard.

There are preferably provided places for lights, such as signal lights of whatever form or style is suitable. The upright sockets indicate holders for such lights. They may be of any form or location desired.

l-Vhat I claim is:

1., A lifeboat having tubular air chambers attached to thelower part of the hull lengthwise thereof on opposite sides of the keel, and tubular chambers attached to the hull lengthwise thereof on both sides, at a higher elevation than the said two air chambers, said second tubular chambers being formed with a plurality of small perfora tions in the lower part thereof for the admission of water thereto as the boat settles in the water. I

2. A life boat having tubular air chambers attached. to the lower part of the hull lengthwise thereof on opposite sides of the keel, and tubular chambers attached to the hull lengthwise thereof on both sides, at a higher elevation than the said two air tubes, saidsecond tubular chambers being formed with a plurality of small perforations in the lower part thereof for the slow admission of water thereto, anda second set of tubular air chambers entirely closed, secured to the sides of the hull above saic perforated tubes.

8. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed air and water-tight,

others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted as the boat settles in the water, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other.

at. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for the top forming a closed cabin in terior, and ventilating pipes extending from the interior up through the coverin and for some distance above the same, sai interior being closed water-tight except through said ventilators.

5. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for the top forming a closed cabin interior and ventilating tubes extending from the interior up through the top cover and for some distance above the same, said interior being closed watertight except through said ventilator tubes, the boat being provided with hatchways through the upper part thereof having doors or hatches which may be closed water-tight.

6. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed, forming water-tight compartments, others of said tubes being pro vided with a plurality of small apertures through which water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for the top forming a closed cabin interior, and ventilating tubes extending up through the top covering and for some distance above the top thereof, said interior being closed tight except through said ventilator tubes, and water-tight tubular air chambers secured to each end of the boat at the top thereof.

7. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for the top forming a closed cabin interior, and ventilating tubes extending up through the top covering and for some distance above the top thereof, said interior being closed tight except through said ventilator tubes, the said hull being tapered at each end and having a fin running lengthwise of the keel and extending up on each end.

8. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for thetop forming a closed cabin interior, and ventilating tubes extending up through the top covering and for some distance above the top thereof, said interior being closed tight except through said ventilator tubes, and water tubes extending up through the boat from the bottom to the top and above the top to a somewhat lower elevation than the top of the ventilators, said water tubes being disposed on opposite sides of the median line of the boat and balancing each other.

9. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a covering for the top forming a closed cabin interior, and ventilating tubes extending up through the top covering and for some distance above the top thereof, said interior being closed tight except through said ventilator tubes, a collapsible rail hinged on the upper side of the boat in sections, and means for securing the rail in upright position.

10. A life boat having secured to the hull longitudinally thereof on its opposite sides a plurality of hollow tubes, some of said tubes being closed water-tight, others of said tubes being provided with a plurality of small apertures through which the water may be slowly admitted, the said tubes on both sides of the hull being complementary to each other, the said boat having a cover ing for the top forming a closed cabin interier and ventilating'tubes extending up through the top covering and for some distance above the top thereof, said interior being closed tight except through said ventilator tubes e collapsible rail hinged on the upper side of the boat in sections, and

FLLIPPO BENTZWEGNA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Cemmissioner of Patents Washington, D. 6.

means for securing the rail in upright posi-r 

